September 24
Montreal Impact 2 Heredia 0
The Impact finished off their Group 5 CONCACAF Champions League Campaign by ending their two game losing run and gained revenge for their 1-0 lost to their opponents in Guatemala. Needing to score six goals, no result in the final Group match between San Jose Earthquakes and Heredia will now allow the Impact to advance to the Quarter Final stage. The home side got off to the perfect start when they went in front with only 4 minutes showing on the clock.
After the Guatemalan’s had cleared a corner the ball reached Maxim Tissot who launched the ball back into their penalty area, Felipe Martins had a shot blocked and the resulting rebound arrived at the feet of Daniele Paponi who buried it from close range with an acrobatic finish past the visitors goalkeeper Jose Calderon. The Impact kept the pressure on and targeted left back Wilmer Garcia on every occasion possible resulting in shots for Andrew Wenger and Paponi but they were both blocked by the visitors defense 9 minutes in the second-half and the Canadian outfit finally doubled their advantage.
Tissot also played a part in this tally as well as he played a well weighted pass to Wenger and despite close attention for the Heredia rear-guard he was able to lift the ball over Calderon. With both teams now needing goals the last part of the game turned very open. Montreal were denied by an assistant referee’s flag and the woodwork and Heredia were let down too much by an inaccurate final ball. The one time they did manage to fulfil this however was 13 minutes from time when Hector De Matta slipped his way past an onrushing Evan Bush in the Impact goal, but having got that far he then missed the net.
The result does not change the scenario for the Guatemalan outfit as a draw when they visit California next month will see them still advance to the knock-out phase of the competition in their first appearance.